Dr Claude supports AAP stand on mining, with objections

GOANEWS DESK, PANAJI | 26 August 2016 23:59 IST

Goa Foundation has supported the stand taken by the Aam Aadmi Party on the mining issue, but with certain reservations and objections.

AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal had recently had a meeting with mining dependents and had promised them compensation as well as raising the mining cap from 20 million tonnes to 35 million tonnes.

Dr Claude Alvares, director GF, has opposed the AAP stand of raising the mining cap, stating that we in that case would not leave anything for the future generations.

According to Dr Alvares, the minerals do not belong to us but we are merely trustees of it.

He has however fully backed Kejriwal’s stand that there are no mine owners in Goa and the mineral reserves don’t belong to the lease holders.

Dr Alvares has welcomed Kejriwal’s statement of recovering the loot by the lease holders, while clarifying that it is not Rs 35,000 crore but Rs 65,000 crore as per the Supreme Court.

He has however objected to Kejriwal’s assurance to distribute this money only to the mining dependents.

According to him, this money belongs to all the Goans and cannot be spent on only the mining dependents.

He has also pointed out at the SC guideline to form District Mineral Foundations and deposit money from mining in these foundations, to be used ONLY for mining-affected people.

Goa Foundation has also welcomed Kejriwal’s statement of compensating the mining truckers, stating that they are the most affected people in the whole mining controversy.

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Instead of criticizing AAP & AK, anti-Mining people should join AAP and make your own Manifesto. AAP will implement it. AAP is your party. AAP is You.

- Jack De Goan, Goa | 27 th August 2016 22:35

AAP should recover 35 Thousand Corers Rupees, Must give helping hand to the Mining dependent people, Must give helping hand to the non-Mining dependent people, Must utilize the Mining income for the welfare of all the Goans in Goa, Cap on the Mining, so that no illegal mining takes place, Environment & Agriculture must not be comprised.

- Jack De Goan, Goa | 27 th August 2016 21:59

What AAP says and Alvarez agrees to is like saying once I meet Almighty I will take money from him and distribute it to people. It's just impossible. It's another attempt to take people for a ride.